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"...At the ear of Eve": hearing, gender, and the physiology of the fall in John Milton's Paradise lost.

Creator

Pollari, Niina., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Abstract/Description

The organ of hearing, in John Milton's Paradise Lost, is inextricably connected with both the physical and the spiritual; it is the point of entry through which Satan's words enter Eve's brain, subsequently process, and lead eventually to the fall of mankind. Its symbolic importance is also indisputable, as it is a metaphor for the feminine passivity and penetrability that make Milton's Eve a particularly vulnerable target. There is, however, already a pre-existing connection between the ear... Show moreThe organ of hearing, in John Milton's Paradise Lost, is inextricably connected with both the physical and the spiritual; it is the point of entry through which Satan's words enter Eve's brain, subsequently process, and lead eventually to the fall of mankind. Its symbolic importance is also indisputable, as it is a metaphor for the feminine passivity and penetrability that make Milton's Eve a particularly vulnerable target. There is, however, already a pre-existing connection between the ear and its role in Paradise Lost. The seventeenth-century medical texts of Milton's contemporaries gender the physiology of the ear and the process of hearing and therefore contribute to its importance in the pivotal temptation scene; that is, the rhetoric surrounding the physiology of the ear is the down fall of humankind in the epic poem. As a result of the dangerous connection between science and language, Milton's characters are already predestined to sin. Show less

This paper argues that Kim Il-Sung of North Korea and Fidel Castro of Cuba established personality cults of differing degrees of intensity due to the relative degrees of historical and political isolation present in each state. Although both states followed a similar pattern of dominance, resentment, nationalism, and socialism in their recent histories, their differing overall histories dictated the intensity of their leaders' personality cults. Korea's long history of self-imposed... Show moreThis paper argues that Kim Il-Sung of North Korea and Fidel Castro of Cuba established personality cults of differing degrees of intensity due to the relative degrees of historical and political isolation present in each state. Although both states followed a similar pattern of dominance, resentment, nationalism, and socialism in their recent histories, their differing overall histories dictated the intensity of their leaders' personality cults. Korea's long history of self-imposed isolationism in combination with xenophobia was continued in Kim's self-reliance ideology and allowed for a fanatical personality cult to develop. Cuba's only experience with isolation was that imposed by the United States through its embargoes, and the resulting hostility between Cuba and the United States actually helped legitimize Castro's regime and personality cult. Show less

In their studies of the code of honor in the Old South, historians such as Bertram Wyatt-Brown and Edward L. Ayers consider women incapable of possessing honor. However, the diary of Sarah Morgan, a young woman living in Baton Rouge and New Orleans during the Civil War, reveals the many ways that women actively engaged in the code of honor and even considered themselves to be honorable. In her diary, Sarah Morgan described her own reverence for any honorable gentleman and the ways in which... Show moreIn their studies of the code of honor in the Old South, historians such as Bertram Wyatt-Brown and Edward L. Ayers consider women incapable of possessing honor. However, the diary of Sarah Morgan, a young woman living in Baton Rouge and New Orleans during the Civil War, reveals the many ways that women actively engaged in the code of honor and even considered themselves to be honorable. In her diary, Sarah Morgan described her own reverence for any honorable gentleman and the ways in which women like her preached the ideologies of the code of honor to men. Women reinforced the code of honor by urging men to die rather than dishonor their family names, punished dishonorable men with their disdain while they celebrated their honorable heroes, and even adopted a feminized version of the code so that they too could possess honor. Show less

"Double sustainability" in Botswana and South Africa: the case of the san in the central Kalahari game reserve and Kgalagadi transfrontier park.

Creator

Nelson, Lindsay, O’Brien, William, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Abstract/Description

The question of land access rights for indigenous peoples is now a prominent theme in the management of large parks and game reserves in Africa. This comparative study addresses different government responses to this question regarding land dispossession of the San in Southern Africa. Ancestral lands of this unique and marginalized indigenous population had been rendered off limits by the creation of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP) in South Africa and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve ... Show moreThe question of land access rights for indigenous peoples is now a prominent theme in the management of large parks and game reserves in Africa. This comparative study addresses different government responses to this question regarding land dispossession of the San in Southern Africa. Ancestral lands of this unique and marginalized indigenous population had been rendered off limits by the creation of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP) in South Africa and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) in Botswana. In more recent years, the government of Botswana and the post-apartheid government of South Africa have pursued quite divergent approaches to addressing the question of renewed San access rights in the parks. Central to the comparative analysis in this study is the degree to which South Africa and Botswana have embraced the concept of “double sustainability” in park management, which emphasizes the protection of biodiversity and people’s livelihoods at the same time. Show less

"Is the world, then, so narrow?": the simultaneous need for home and travel in Hawthorne's The scarlet letter.

Creator

McGrath, Derek., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Abstract/Description

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter and its preface, "The Custom- House," the author himself and Pearl Prynne are characters who engage in travel, escaping the restrictiveness imposed onto them by their hometowns and finding greater creative freedom elsewhere. Their journey, however, is not necessarily physical but rather creative. Hawthorne and Pearl employ writing and imaginative thinking, respectively, in order to characterize Salem and Boston as foreign locations through which... Show moreIn Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter and its preface, "The Custom- House," the author himself and Pearl Prynne are characters who engage in travel, escaping the restrictiveness imposed onto them by their hometowns and finding greater creative freedom elsewhere. Their journey, however, is not necessarily physical but rather creative. Hawthorne and Pearl employ writing and imaginative thinking, respectively, in order to characterize Salem and Boston as foreign locations through which they may tour. The two are what Hawthorne calls "citizen[s] of somewhere else," although they have not departed from their homes yet. By considering how "The Custom-House" relates to The Scarlet Letter based on the themes of travel and home, a new interpretation arises about Hawthorne's book as well as his definition of the American romance, which posits that a person may use creativity in order to find his or her place both within and away from the community. Show less

"It is our duty to sing": a defense of the mythic method in David Jones's In parenthesis.

Creator

Snyder, Matthew J., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Abstract/Description

Great War veteran David Jones's poem about the war, In Parenthesis, has been attacked by literary critics Paul Fussell and Evelyn Cobley on the grounds that the poem, usually read as an instance of "literature of protest" against the war, indicates Jones's ideological complicity with the war through its extensive allusions to heroic Celtic myth, British literature, and Catholic liturgy. This thesis argues that Jones's intricate allusive network represents a mythopoetic method of endurance, a... Show moreGreat War veteran David Jones's poem about the war, In Parenthesis, has been attacked by literary critics Paul Fussell and Evelyn Cobley on the grounds that the poem, usually read as an instance of "literature of protest" against the war, indicates Jones's ideological complicity with the war through its extensive allusions to heroic Celtic myth, British literature, and Catholic liturgy. This thesis argues that Jones's intricate allusive network represents a mythopoetic method of endurance, a way of making order amidst the chaos of the Western Front. Jones's mythopoetic method, which I call allusive "seeing," serves as both a psychological defense mechanism against the war's strangeness and horror and a protest against the perception that because of the industrial, unheroic nature of the Great War, the soldiers who fought and died in it cannot be considered heroes. Show less

This paper argues that Kim Il-Sung of North Korea and Fidel Castro of Cuba established personality cults of differing degrees of intensity due to the relative degrees of historical and political isolation present in each state. Although both states followed a similar pattern of dominance, resentment, nationalism, and socialism in their recent histories, their differing overall histories dictated the intensity of their leaders' personality cults. Korea's long history of self-imposed... Show moreThis paper argues that Kim Il-Sung of North Korea and Fidel Castro of Cuba established personality cults of differing degrees of intensity due to the relative degrees of historical and political isolation present in each state. Although both states followed a similar pattern of dominance, resentment, nationalism, and socialism in their recent histories, their differing overall histories dictated the intensity of their leaders' personality cults. Korea's long history of self-imposed isolationism in combination with xenophobia was continued in Kim's self-reliance ideology and allowed for a fanatical personality cult to develop. Cuba's only experience with isolation was that imposed by the United States through its embargoes, and the resulting hostility between Cuba and the United States actually helped legitimize Castro's regime and personality cult. Show less

"One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons!": twinship and doubling in Twelfth Night.

Creator

Puehn, Amanda M., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Abstract/Description

This thesis considers the relationship between scientific advances, identity formation, and literature in an early modern print culture. As medical theorists made their discoveries and defended their work they did so within the literary world; turning to the printed word to cultivate their personal identity and rebut dissenting colleagues. Subsequently, playwright William Shakespeare employed common medical knowledge within his plays. Twelfth Night presents male and female twins within the... Show moreThis thesis considers the relationship between scientific advances, identity formation, and literature in an early modern print culture. As medical theorists made their discoveries and defended their work they did so within the literary world; turning to the printed word to cultivate their personal identity and rebut dissenting colleagues. Subsequently, playwright William Shakespeare employed common medical knowledge within his plays. Twelfth Night presents male and female twins within the scope of a comedy that plays upon the issues of cross-dressing and mistaken sexual identity. During the Renaissance, it was believed that male and female seed was co-present in every person and through dominance a distinct sexual identity was developed. This thesis argues that while Shakespeare initially convoluted this by allowing one of the twins to cross-dress; he resolved the anatomical doubling by presenting both characters together on stage at the close of the play. Show less

Criticism and interpretation, Symbolism in literature, Identity (Psychology) in literature, Sex role in literature, Literature and medicine, History

Format

Document (PDF)

Title

"Our fellows in mortality": kindness to animals in Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure.

Creator

Brockway, Jessica L., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Abstract/Description

In Jude the Obscure, Thomas Hardy depicts characters who are especially sensitive to the suffering of all living creatures and thus engages his novel in the topic of animal rights. In this project I examine the human-animal relationships in Hardy's novel in terms of the ideas of two different philosophers: Peter Singer and Cora Diamond. I argue that, while Singer at first seems to provide a useful model for understanding these relationships in Jude, Diamond's account of these relationships is... Show moreIn Jude the Obscure, Thomas Hardy depicts characters who are especially sensitive to the suffering of all living creatures and thus engages his novel in the topic of animal rights. In this project I examine the human-animal relationships in Hardy's novel in terms of the ideas of two different philosophers: Peter Singer and Cora Diamond. I argue that, while Singer at first seems to provide a useful model for understanding these relationships in Jude, Diamond's account of these relationships is ultimately a more helpful tool for understanding Hardy's ideas about animals. Diamond helps us see that Hardy believes people should help all living creatures in pain, no matter the cost to themselves, not because they recognize their suffering, but because they recognize a shared commonality with all sentient creatures. Show less

"You are the one fixed point in a changing age": the immortality of Sherlock Holmes in Japan.

Creator

Chick, Amanda., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Abstract/Description

Sherlock Holmes has been popular in Japan since the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912), but no critic has yet connected Holmes and the protagonist of the recent graphic novel Death Note (2003-2006). While American detective fiction has defined itself somewhat in opposition to Arthur Conan Doyle, Japan embraced Sherlock Holmes and created a series of detectives modeled on the English icon. These characters live and work in Japan, but they are never more than Japanese versions of an English original... Show moreSherlock Holmes has been popular in Japan since the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912), but no critic has yet connected Holmes and the protagonist of the recent graphic novel Death Note (2003-2006). While American detective fiction has defined itself somewhat in opposition to Arthur Conan Doyle, Japan embraced Sherlock Holmes and created a series of detectives modeled on the English icon. These characters live and work in Japan, but they are never more than Japanese versions of an English original. Although Japan has a long history of adaptations and translations of Doyle's writings, no Japanese character has exemplified Holmes as fully as L, the protagonist of Death Note. While L is clearly similar to Holmes, he also blends English and Japanese characteristics in a way that no Japanese detective figure before him managed to do, and thus becomes the first quintessentially Japanese Sherlock Holmes. Show less

[the following is perhaps a theory of reading, particularly reading of academic texts, or reading of academic texts about which one intends to write, its objective to free the reader and, by extension, the writer, through freeing the text. it is open to failure, its interest less in the provision of a successful argument—it is perhaps best understood not as an argument but as an exercise, a getting-into-or-maintaining-yet-mutating-shape—than in the demonstration that such reading/writing is a... Show more[the following is perhaps a theory of reading, particularly reading of academic texts, or reading of academic texts about which one intends to write, its objective to free the reader and, by extension, the writer, through freeing the text. it is open to failure, its interest less in the provision of a successful argument—it is perhaps best understood not as an argument but as an exercise, a getting-into-or-maintaining-yet-mutating-shape—than in the demonstration that such reading/writing is a valid strategy, albeit one that, following Bailey, is positively contrarian in terms of employing “a bare minimum of physical [mental] exertion” and “equipment, [or] financial or material resources” (Micro Bionic 12).] Show less

A critical feminist science studies critique of the term 'pseudoscience'.

Creator

Lewycky, Zoe, Njambi, Wairimũ N., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Abstract/Description

Using a Critical Feminist Science Studies perspective, I examine how the term 'pseudoscience’ rewrites science’s history, preventing science from being held accountable for its power structures and hierarchical narratives. I first examine the historical and cultural origins of science, the figure of the scientist, and 'objectivity.' Then, I explore science's obsession with the body in the many works and theories that have been developed since its origination in the seventeenth century.... Show moreUsing a Critical Feminist Science Studies perspective, I examine how the term 'pseudoscience’ rewrites science’s history, preventing science from being held accountable for its power structures and hierarchical narratives. I first examine the historical and cultural origins of science, the figure of the scientist, and 'objectivity.' Then, I explore science's obsession with the body in the many works and theories that have been developed since its origination in the seventeenth century. Finally, I apply critical feminist science studies to Michael Shermer's usage of the word 'pseudoscience' in his book, Why People Believe Weird Things. My proposed solution is that we stop using such a term in order to hold science accountable for its problematic aspects and legacies. I also suggest that we adopt Donna Haraway’s concept of ‘situated knowledge’ to replace objectivity. Show less

Jury nullification is defined as a "Jury's knowing and deliberate rejection of the evidence, or refusal to apply the law" (Black's Law Dictionary). Originally, U.S. jurisprudence recognized a juror's power to nullify a law as a necessary element of an impartial jury. However, U.S. courts have since been evolving an increasingly prohibitive stance regarding jury nullification. After careful examination of common law, U.S. case law, and analysis of legal and political theories which shaped the... Show moreJury nullification is defined as a "Jury's knowing and deliberate rejection of the evidence, or refusal to apply the law" (Black's Law Dictionary). Originally, U.S. jurisprudence recognized a juror's power to nullify a law as a necessary element of an impartial jury. However, U.S. courts have since been evolving an increasingly prohibitive stance regarding jury nullification. After careful examination of common law, U.S. case law, and analysis of legal and political theories which shaped the U.S. judicial system, I argue that a defendant's sixth amendment right will always be violated when a jury is prohibited from knowing its power of nullification and/or when a juror is reprimanded for exercising the nullification power. Show less

I have been discussing the ways in which mathematics is used in the process of hurricane prediction. My thesis analyzes some of the methods of calculation as well as the recent changes in meteorology in order to find more effective methods of predicting the number and intensity of hurricanes. The methods discussed include the use of statistics in the generation of trends and in the calculation of Accumulated Cyclonic Energy (ACE). These methods help meteorologists predict storm frequency,... Show moreI have been discussing the ways in which mathematics is used in the process of hurricane prediction. My thesis analyzes some of the methods of calculation as well as the recent changes in meteorology in order to find more effective methods of predicting the number and intensity of hurricanes. The methods discussed include the use of statistics in the generation of trends and in the calculation of Accumulated Cyclonic Energy (ACE). These methods help meteorologists predict storm frequency, strength, and projected damages. This paper provides methods of calculation, a discussion of current projects and papers in this area of study, and a forecast of the 2016 hurricane season. Show less

A Statistical Analysis of the U.S. News and World Report's Honor Roll List of Best Hospitals Via County Mortality Rates.

Creator

Evans, Brian, McGovern, Warren W., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Abstract/Description

With the widespread use of the internet, information regarding medical facilities and practices has never been easier to obtain. This convenience may often prove beneficial, but using the internet to research topics regarding one's own health creates a potential for risks. This research addresses these concerns by studying the annual Honor Roll list of hospitals, a listing published each year by the U.S. News and World Report that ranks the best medical facilities in the country. To... Show moreWith the widespread use of the internet, information regarding medical facilities and practices has never been easier to obtain. This convenience may often prove beneficial, but using the internet to research topics regarding one's own health creates a potential for risks. This research addresses these concerns by studying the annual Honor Roll list of hospitals, a listing published each year by the U.S. News and World Report that ranks the best medical facilities in the country. To accomplish this, we aimed to analyze the relationship between the hospitals listed on the Honor Roll and the mortality rates of the counties in which each hospital is located. Upon completion of this research, we were unable to find a significant difference between mortality rates of counties with Honor Roll hospitals and those without. Show less

The religious architecture of Ladakh, India, reflects a rich multicultural history defined by bodily practices of remembrance performed on an individual and collective basis. The focus of my research is to understand how the religious community of Ladakh enshrines memories and traditions within their mosques and temples. In particular, I examine how literally constructed spaces can act as a superstructure to which memories can attach. Using as a point of reference Paul Connerton’s work on... Show moreThe religious architecture of Ladakh, India, reflects a rich multicultural history defined by bodily practices of remembrance performed on an individual and collective basis. The focus of my research is to understand how the religious community of Ladakh enshrines memories and traditions within their mosques and temples. In particular, I examine how literally constructed spaces can act as a superstructure to which memories can attach. Using as a point of reference Paul Connerton’s work on social bodily practices in How Societies Remember (1989), I conducted interviews with members of the Ladakhi community to explore the idea of architecture as a focal point of remembrance. By examining the entwined processes of layering memories and constructing traditions, I hope to better understand how experiential and collective memories contribute to the construction of these Ladakhi spaces as sacred. Show less

The activism of the Catholic Church on immigrants' rights in the United States: testing the religious economy model.

Creator

Lazo de la Vega, Sandra, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Abstract/Description

This paper tests the religious economy model for predicting Church behavior which predicts that religious firms will become more politically active on behalf of potential members in areas where competition for those members is most fierce. An analysis of data from a survey of 106 U.S. Catholic dioceses and archdioceses on outreach to Hispanic immigrants does not support this hypothesis. Religious competition and Church activism on immigration issues did not correlate. Rather, demand for... Show moreThis paper tests the religious economy model for predicting Church behavior which predicts that religious firms will become more politically active on behalf of potential members in areas where competition for those members is most fierce. An analysis of data from a survey of 106 U.S. Catholic dioceses and archdioceses on outreach to Hispanic immigrants does not support this hypothesis. Religious competition and Church activism on immigration issues did not correlate. Rather, demand for services (measured as Hispanic presence within each diocese) was a better predictor of Church activism on immigration issues. This finding suggests that the "inelastic demand" assumption of the religious economy model must be dropped, re-opening demand side explanations for Church behavior across national and local contexts. Show less

Church work with immigrants, Progressivism (United States politics), Immigrants, Religious life, Immigrants, Social conditions, Emigration and immigration, Religious aspects

Format

Document (PDF)

Title

Adopting the orphan: determining the role of the motor protein KIF9 during the cell cycle.

Creator

Rivera Rios, Miguel E., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Abstract/Description

The kinesin superfamily of microtubule motor proteins is subdivided into families based upon structure and function. KIF9 is the founding member of the Kinesin-9 family, which is a largely uncharacterized group of kinesins. It was originally identified by sequence homology to other kinesins. Subsequent studies have shown that KIF9 interacts with proteins involved in cell shape remodeling, cell migration and proper centrosomal positioning. We have examined KIF9 function in mammalian cells... Show moreThe kinesin superfamily of microtubule motor proteins is subdivided into families based upon structure and function. KIF9 is the founding member of the Kinesin-9 family, which is a largely uncharacterized group of kinesins. It was originally identified by sequence homology to other kinesins. Subsequent studies have shown that KIF9 interacts with proteins involved in cell shape remodeling, cell migration and proper centrosomal positioning. We have examined KIF9 function in mammalian cells using shRNA-mediated knockdown and GFP-plasmid overexpression. By knocking dow KIF9 expression in these cells, we have seen several effects on normal cell cycle progression. Using various cell cycle markers, we have observed a decrease in the number of cells in late S phase. In addition, there is a marked increase in the number of cells in early mitosis in unexpected time intervals. We propose that KIF9 is required for proper cell progression, via a potentially novel checkpoint mechanism. Show less

Management of nonnative invasive species (NIS) frequently involves removing animals or plants from an area in order to conserve native communities. Methods of removing invasive animals include killing individuals, justified as a means of protecting broader ecological values. This management approach, however, is often controversial and highlights differences between discourses of environmental and animal rights. The former values life at a holistic level while the latter emphasizes the value... Show moreManagement of nonnative invasive species (NIS) frequently involves removing animals or plants from an area in order to conserve native communities. Methods of removing invasive animals include killing individuals, justified as a means of protecting broader ecological values. This management approach, however, is often controversial and highlights differences between discourses of environmental and animal rights. The former values life at a holistic level while the latter emphasizes the value of individual lives. Language both reflects and shapes belief and action, and to assess these divergent views, I compare invasive species rhetoric of a prominent environmental organization with that of an influential animal welfare group. The goal is to identify the most prevalent themes in the different organizations’ characterizations, highlighting areas of convergence and divergence regarding such themes, and, ultimately, to find out if their rhetoric points to any viable suggestions for compromise. Show less

All power to the people: the Black Panther Party as the vanguard of the oppressed.

Creator

Berman, Matthew., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Abstract/Description

The Black Panther Party was the most famous group born out of the Black Power Movement. Because of the group's inherent link to the Black Power Movement, and the group's slogan of "Black Power," many people, both black and white, believed, and continue to believe, that the Black Panther Party was a group with racial motives. However, this conceptualization of the Party was, and is, incorrect. While the Black Panther Party began as an outgrowth of the black civil rights movement, the Panthers... Show moreThe Black Panther Party was the most famous group born out of the Black Power Movement. Because of the group's inherent link to the Black Power Movement, and the group's slogan of "Black Power," many people, both black and white, believed, and continue to believe, that the Black Panther Party was a group with racial motives. However, this conceptualization of the Party was, and is, incorrect. While the Black Panther Party began as an outgrowth of the black civil rights movement, the Panthers quickly evolved into a revolutionary vanguard with a non-racial, class-oriented agenda. Show less